Changeable exhibitor



D- 27, 1938. c. A. LoEwENsTEIN 2,141,398

CHNGEABLE EXHIBITOR- Filed Oct. 28, 1937 2 Sheets-Sheet l L tw@ LINVENTOR .ATTORNEYS Dec. 27, 1938. c. A. I OEWENSTEIN 2,141,398

V CHANG'EABLE EXHIBITOR Filled Oct. 28, 1957 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Mm INVEN'IOR.

named Der. 2v,` 193s 2,141,398

UNITED STATES PATENT 'oFFl'cE CHANGEABLE Exnmrron Carl AlbertLoewenstein, Berlin. Germany, as signor to Ernst Gustav Preuss, SouthLodge, St. Johns Wood, England Application October 28, 1937, Serial No.171.410 In Germany May 28, 1937 6 Claims. (Cl. 40-65) This inventionrelates to changeable exhibitors, tance from each other and serve inthemselves and has for its object the provision of an exhibitor tomaintain the guide strips I6 of each side frame of that typeAwhich iscompact, strong,v durable member I 4 in spaced relation, thus providinga and by which a relatively large number of pictopair of guide slotsIl--one for each of the side 5 rial or other exhibits may beaccommodated and frame members. The guide slots I'I are adapted movedselectively into display positions. to accommodate opposite ends of aplurality of Although the invention is adapted for use in transverselydisposed actuators I8 which are arthe display of many classes ofpictorial or other ranged in a parallel relation to each other andpresentations, it is herein illustrated as embodyare adapted to beshifted longitudinally of the 10 ing in an exhibitor particularlyadapted for use frame I2 to various positions intermediate the 10 inselectively diplaying a plurality of map sections end frame members I5,it being observed that the which collectively constitute a map ofrelatively length of the guide S10tS l1 iS Such, With reSpeCt largeproportions. to the combined width of the several actuators Inl thedrawingsl I8, as to permit such actuators to be successively l5 Fig. lis a view partly in face relation and moved a distance corresponding tothe width of l5 partly in section of a changeable exhibitor emany givenactuator. bodying the present invention; Referring further to the endframe members Fig. 2 is a view showing the device of Fig. 1 as I5, itwill be observed that each of them termiit appears from the rightthereof, but with pornates well short of the ends of the side frametions of the housing broken away and with other members I4 except fortheir outwardly extending 2o portions of such housing shown in section;leg-like extensions 20 which are disposed intern Fig. 3 is a fragmentalview similar to that of mediate the guide strips I6 and terminate sub-Fig. l, but showing the device of that gure as stantially flush with theends thereof. Secured viewed from the rear thereof; to opposite faces ofthe end frame members I5 Fig. 4 is an enlarged, transverse, sectionalview are a pair 0f Central guide Strips 2| Which are 25 taken on line4-4 of Fig. 1; disposed intermediate the side frame members I4 Fig. 5 isa face view of the operating unit; of and between which the severalactuators I8 are Fig. l, but removed from its housing and with itsslidably accommodated.

several secondary actuators devoid of map strips. FOr the Sake 0fClarity in denng the Strue- 30 Fig. 6 is a view showing the operatingunit of tural and functional relation of the actuators I8 30 Fig. 5 asit appears from the right thereof; to their respectively associated andhereinafter Fig. 7 1S o, sectional view taken on 1in@ 1....1 ofidentified parts, such actuators are designated Fig. 5; 1 a, b, c, d ande. Referring to the actuators a. to e Fig 8 is a, diagrammatic Viewshowing ceri-,ain inclusive, it will be observed that they arerespecgroups of map strips and illustrating a particular tivelyConnected, eS by rivets 22, t0 perS 0f See- 35 map-strip-relation.Ondary actuators tlf-a'. b'b', C'-1C', d'-d Fig. 9 is a view showing theoperating unit of and e'-e, which Secondary actuators are ar- Fig, 5 asii; appears from either the top or the ranged in a parallel relation toeach other and bottom thereof, and are adapted to be movedlongitudinally of the 40 Fig. 10 is a transverse, sectional view takenon frame l2 in response t0 corresponding movement 40 line Ill-I0 of Fig,5. of their respectively associated actuators a to e 'I'he particulardevice herein illustrated as eminclusive. AS ShOWrl mOSt Clearly in Fg-5., the bodying the present invention includes an oper- SecondaryactuatOrS l'-a', b'-b', Cc', dd A ating unit Ill which is adapted to becarried withand e'e, are arranged in tW0 grOups, one grOllp in areceptacle-like housing II. being located at one side of thelongitudinal cen- 45 Referring particularly to the operating unit I0,ter of the frame I2 and the other group being it will be observed thatit includes a supporting arranged at the other side of such center; andas frame I2. This supporting frame comprises a Shown most clearly inFigs. 4, '7, 9 and 10, each pair of side frame members I4 and a pair ofend secondary actuator includes a pair of actuator frame members I5.yEach of the side frame memstrips 24 between which the actuators a to e50 bers I4 includes a. pair of guide strips I6 between inclusive areaccommodated. As to the actuators which opposite ends of the end framemembers a to e inclusive, it will be observed that any one I5 aresuitably secured. of them is slidable with relation to all secondary Asto the end frame members I5, it will be obactuators va-a' to e'-e'except that pair to served that they are spaced a substantial diswhichsaid one' actuator is rigidly connected by 55 its associated rivets 22.As shown most clearly in Figs. 7 and. 9, adjacent ends of the actuatorstrips 24 of each secondary actuator a' to e' are secured togetherthrough the medium of a tapelike binder 25. j

Although the invention is adapted for use in the display of many classesof pictorial or other presentations, it is herein illustrated asembodied in an exhibitor particularly adapted for use in selectivelydisplaying a plurality of map sections y which collectively constitute amap of relatively large proportions. The map sections may be numbered-1, 2, 3, 4, etc., in order to enable one,-

through the aid of a suitable key, to quickly and selectively presentany section in which he may be particularly interested at a giveninstant. For example, if one is interested in that section of the UnitedStates of America which comprises the New England States and the keyindicates that the New England section is identied by the numeral 1, theuser of the device embodying the present invention may, withoutdifficulty, selectively present map section No. 1 to the exclusion ofall other similar map sections regardless of whether they be few ormany. In the present embodiment of the invention, provision is made forthe displaying of twelve map sectionssix at one side of the device and acorresponding number at the other side thereof. In this connection, itwill be observed that the actuators i8 are provided near their oppositeends with numerals 1 to 12 in association with arrows, which indicatethe direction inl which the respective actuators shall be moved in orderto present the various map sections.

As to the various map sections, each of them includes a plurality of(herein shown as ten-see Figs. 1 and 3) transversely disposed map stripsMS, the map strips appearing as presented to view in Fig. 1 collectivelyrepresenting map section No. 2 and those appearing in Fig. 3representing map section No. 8. As to the map strips MS, it will beobserved that each of them is provided with a pair of leg-likeextensions 26, which, in the case of the map strips i and i2' peculiarto map section No. 1, are attached to the side frame members I4, andwhich, in the case of the map strips 2 to il' inclusive peculiar to mapsections Nos. 2 to 11 inclusive, are connected in an appropriate orderto the secondary actuators a"a to e-e' inclusive.` Thus, it will beappreciated that by moving, for example, actuator a downwardly from itsposition shown in Fig. 5 to a position in close proximity to actuator b,map section No. 1 will be presented at one side of the device, whereasmap section No. 'I will be presented at the other side of the device. Itis believed that the manner in which such presentation is effected maybe better appreciated by referring to Fig. 8 which, although of` afragmentary nature, is sumcient to diagrammatically illustrate themap-strip-relation prevailing when map section No. 2 is presented. Thelowermost group of map strips of Fig. 8 are those appearing in Fig. 1 aslocated at the rear of the housing Il within which the operating unit I0is carried, and lthe uppermost group of map strips of Fig. 8 are thoseappearing in Fig. 1 as exposed to view at the upper end of said housing,whereas the remaining two groups of map strips yof Fig. 8 areillustrative of the map-strip-relation of all other intermediate groupsof map strips when the device is conditioned as in Fig. 1. Referringfurther to Fig. 8, it will be observed that, due to the position ofactuator a in Fig. 1, map strips 2' overlie and obscure map strips I'.The exposed map strips 2' collectively formulate map section No. 2, and,when moved downwardly in response to a similar movement of actuator a,are themselves obscured by the respective groups of map strips behindwhich they are adapted to assume inactive positions.` As the map strips2' are moved downwardly, map strips i are exposed and so register as toformulate map section No. 1. It will, of course, beunderstood that whilemap strips 2 are maintained in exposed positions at one side of thedevice, map strips 8 (which collectively formulate map section No. 8)are exposed at the other side of the device; that upon moving actuator adownwardly, map strips 8 are obscured, as described inv connection withmap strips 2, and that map strips 1' (which collectively formulate mapsection No. 7) are exposed as described in connection with map stripsi'. l

It is believed in view of the foregoing description of the operation ofthe'device (particular reference being had to actuator a and the mapvsections controlled thereby, namely, Nos. 2 and 7) that it isunnecessary to 'particularly describe the manner in which the severalactuators b, c, d, and e may be operated to selectively present theseveral map sections which they control (namely, map sections Nos. 3, 9;4, 10; 5,11; and 6, 12), other than to point out that any selected oneof these latter-named map sections may be presented to view by movingthe actuator (bearing the identifying numeral corresponding to thenumber of the selected map section) in the direction of the arrowassociated with Vsaid identifying numeral.

As herein previously stated; the operating unit Ill is carried withinthe housing I I. This housing may be of any appropriate d'esign, and isherein illustrated as including a pair of complementary sections 21and`28, the marginal wall 21' of the former of which is adapted totelescopically lit and be held within the marginal walls 28 of thelatter. The sections 21 and 28 are provided, respectively, withwindows30 and 3i which are of such dimensions that the map sections Nos. 1 to 6inclusive may be presented to view at one side of the device whereas themap sections Nos. 7 to 12 inclusive may be presented to view at theother side of the device. 'Ihe windows 30 and 3i are equipped withsheets 32 and 34 of transparent material, such as Celluloid", which aresuitably connected -to the window-boundary-margins of the sections 21and 28, respectively, and serve as protective coverings for theoperating unit i0 Vand particularly the several map strips MS formingelements of that unit. In order that the actuators i8 may bemanipulatedfrom without the housing il, each of such actuators is of a lengthsomewhat greater thanthe overall widthof the housing and the sidemarginal walls 21' and 28 of thejsections 21 and 28 are so constructedas to transversely oi said frame and extending longitudinally of thesame; a'plurality of groups of presentation strips, the stripsof therespective groups being collectively peculiar to dierent presentations,the strips of one group being fixed with relation to said frame, and thestrips of the other groups being movable en group with relation to saidxed strips; and a plurality of actuators extending transversely of saidframe in a parallel relation and slidably supported by said frame withinsaid slots and individually connected to said groups of movable stripsfor eiecting displacement of any selected group of movable strips withrelation to the other groups of strips whereby any selected group of.strips may be presented to view in a coordinated pictorial relation tothe exclusion of the other groups of strips.

2. In a changeable exhibitor; an operating unit comprising a frame,including side members having slots provided therein, said slots beingaligned transversely of said frame and extending longitudinally of thesame; a plurality of groups of presentation strips, the strips of therespective groups being collectively peculiar to diierentpresentationsthe strips of one group being fixed with relation to saidframe, and the strips of the other groups being movable en group withrelation to said xed strips; a plurality of actuators .extendingtransversely of said frame in a parallel relation and slidably supportedby said frame within said slots: and a plurality of secondary actuatorsdisposed in a parallel relation to each other and extendinglongitudinally oi said frame and secured respectively to thefirst-mentioned actuators and adapted to be moved thereby longitudinallyof themselves, said secondary actuators being respectively connected tothe movable groups of said strips for eecting displacement of anyselected group of movable strips with relation to the other groups ofstrips whereby any selected group of strips may be presented to view ina coordinated pictorial relation to the exclusion of the other groups ofstrips. l

3. In a changeable exhibitor; an operating unit comprising a frame,including end members, side members having slots provided therein, andcenter guide strips attached to opposite faces of said end members andspaced 'from each other; a-plurality oi groups of presentation strips,the strips of the respective groups being collectively peculiar todiierent presentations. the strips of one group being iixed withrelation to said side memr bers, and the strips of the other groupsbeing movable en group with relation to said xed strips; a plurality ofactuators associated with said frame and slidably supported within saidslots and the space afforded intermediate said center guide strips; anda plurality of secondary actuators disposed in a parallel relation toeach other and extending longitudinally of said frame and securedrespectively to the mst-mentioned actuators and adapted to be movedthereby longitudinally of themselves, said secondary actu ators beingrespectively connected to the movable groups of said strips foreffecting displacement of any selected group of movable strips withrelation to the other groups ci strips whereby any selected group ofstrips may be presented to View in a coordinated pictorial relation tothe exclusion of the other groups of strips.

4. In a changeable exhibitor, an operating unit comprising a frame, aplurality of groups of presentation strips, the strips of the respectivegroups being collectively peculiar to dinerent presentaen group withrelation tions, a plurality of actuators slidably associated with saidframe and cooperatively associated with said strips for eii'ectingrelative displacement o! any selected group of strips with relation tothe other groups of strips whereby any selected group of strips may bepresented to view in a coordinated pictorial relation to the exclusionof the other groups of strips, and a housing adapted to receive saidoperating unit and including a pair of complementary sections providedrespectively with windows 'through which different presentations may beobserved and having side margins beyond which opposite ends of saidactuators are adapted to project thereby to facilitate manualmanipulation thereof.

5. In a changeable exhibitor; an operating unit comprising a frame,including side members having slots provided therein; a plurality ofgroups of presentation strips, the strips of the respective groups beingcollectively peculiar to different presentations, the strips of onegroup being iixed with relation to said frame, and the strips of theother groups being movable en group with relation to said xed strips; aplurality of actuators slidably supported by said frame within saidslots and individually connected to said groups of movable strips foreffecting displacement of any selected group of movable strips withrelation to the other groups of strips whereby any selected group ofstrips may be presented to view in a coordinated pictorial' relation tothe exclusion of the other groups o! strips; and a housing adapted toreceive said operating unit and including a pair of complementarysections provided respectively with windows through which differentpresentations may lie-observed and having side margins beyond whichopposite ends of said actuators are adapted to project thereby tofacilitate manual manipulation thereof 6. In a changeable exhibitor; anoperating unit comprising a frame, including end members, side membershaving slots provided therein, and center guide strips attached toopposite faces of said end members and spaced from each other; aplurality of groups of presentation strips. the strips of the respectivegroups being collectively peculiar to diierent presentations, the stripsof one group being xed with and the strips of the other groups beingmovable to said ilxed strips: a pilirality oi.' actuators associatedwith said frame and slidably supported within said slots and the spaceafforded intermediate said center guide strips: a

plurality oi' secondary actuators disposed in a parallel relation toeach other and extending longitudinally of said frame and securedrespectiverelation to said sidev members.`

ly to the first-mentioned actuators and adapted to be moved therebylongitudinally of themselves, said secondary actuators beingrespectively connected to the movable groups of said strips for eiectingdisplacement of any selected group of' movable strips with relation tothe other groups of strips whereby any selected group of strips may bepresented to viewl in a coordinated pic# torial relation to theexclusion of the other groups of strips; and a housing adapted toreceive said operating unit and including a 'pair of complementarysections provided respectively with windows through which diierentpresentations may be observed and having side margins beyond whichopposite ends of said actuators are adapted to project thereby tofacilitate manual manipulation thereof. 0

CARL AUBERT

